Sakina Gets a New Lease on Life

Sakina lives with her parents, a younger brother and an ailing grandmother in a small hutment in Muslimabad, Karachi. Her father makes a living by selling rosaries and crocheted prayer caps, earning about Rs. 100 (US$ 1.66) per day. Along with her parents, four-year old Sakina is also an expert rosary maker.

One evening, while coming home from the market, Sakina was thrown head first on to the hard pavement when a car crashed into her. An unconscious Sakina was rushed to a nearby clinic, where her head wound was treated by a general practitioner and she was discharged after regaining consciousness. However, her fever would not abate, and she complained of a severe migraine, nausea and itching on her head.

At her aunt's insistence, her mother brought her to Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Sakina was admitted and diagnosed with a severe skull infection caused by maggots in her wound. This required immediate debridement -- a process of cleaning an open wound by removal of foreign material and dead tissue, so that healing may occur without hindrance. The cost of admission and treatment was Rs. 17,781 (US$ 297). Sakina's physician advised the family to consult the Hospital's welfare officer, who, after reviewing the case, assured the family of all possible support.

The Patient Welfare Programme provided Rs. 8,890 (US$ 148) towards the cost of treatment. The remaining Rs. 8,891 (US$ 149) was donated by "The Patient Behbud Society for AKUH",   started by a group of the University's well wishers and friends, through which 'zakat' contributions are received and disbursed to the deserving.

Sakina recovered rapidly after the procedure and was discharged three days later, and continues to contribute towards the upkeep of her family.